Characterization of traumatic spinal cord injuries: an integrative review of the literature

Abstract

The objective of this study was to know the profile of traumatic spinal cord injuries in Brazil. Thus, was used the integrative review, whose searches were conducted in October 2018, with health descriptors: spinal cord injuries, injuries and injuries, spinal injuries, epidemiology, spinal column and wheelchair. Among the data surveyed in the last 10 years, from January 2008 to January 2018, 148 publications were found in the Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS), 136 in the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) and 85 in the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO), leaving only 10 articles after selection criteria. Therefore, the results showed that the profile of the patients affected by traumatic spinal cord trauma is of men, with low schooling and age between 21 and 30 years. In addition, there is a predominance of injuries caused by a car accident, fall and perforation by firearm projectile, mainly injuring the cervical and thoracic portions of the spine. Thus, it is concluded that the development of this study contributed to the understanding of the epidemiological profile, the main causes and the factors that are related to the injuries of the traumatic spinal cord trauma, and may contribute to the improvement of the care provided to this group.